Many materials and situations aboard ship can damage personnel and the environment. Continued emphasis and direction on combating environmental pollution by federal agencies is contained in presidential executive orders and congressional legislation. All facilities owned by, or leased to, the federal government must be designed, operated, maintained, and monitored to conform to applicable air, water, and noise standards established by federal, state, and local authorities.

The Navy actively participates in a program to protect and enhance the quality of the environment. The Navy adheres to all applicable regulatory standards and initiates actions to conserve natural resources, protect historical and cultural properties, and prevent or control pollution caused by Navy facilities. This chapter contains information dealing with some of the more serious problems that threaten the environment. It also covers the controls that are used to reduce the risks.

HEAT STRESS

On board ship, certain kinds of working spaces may be hot and humid. Some examples of hot and humid spaces are firerooms (boiler rooms), sculleries with automatic dishwashing machines, and galleys.

Heat stress is the basic inability of an individual's body to cope with the effects of a high-temperature and high-humidity environment. When a person works in a hot, humid environment, such as a boiler, heat builds up within his/her body. When the body's capability to cool itself is exceeded, heat stress can occur. The human body tries to cool itself automatically through sweating. Sweating is the mechanism by which the body gets rid of excess heat through evaporation. The sweat evaporates, thereby cooling the body and reducing body temperature. Although the sweating mechanism is a normal body function, the sweating process depletes the body of water and salts and changes the body's chemistry. If liquid volume and salts are not replaced, several heat illnesses or injuries can occur.

HEAT CRAMPS

Heat cramps are simply painful muscle contractions or spasms. They are normally caused by the loss of body fluids through sweating. It is also possible for a person who is overheated to induce muscle cramps by drinking cold liquids too quickly or in large quantities. Heat cramps are often an early warning of heat exhaustion. If you ever experience heat cramps, go to a cooler place, drink plenty of cool (not cold) water, and massage the cramping muscles.

NOTE: Administering salt in any form, even in drinking water, is POOR health care for victims of heat cramps. The loss of body fluids through sweating results in a HIGHER concentration of salts within the body. If the body's heat load builds up, the muscles will absorb increased amounts of salts. This absorption causes the muscles to cramp.

HEAT EXHAUSTION

Heat exhaustion is a more serious threat to health than heat cramps. Heat exhaustion usually occurs when personnel work or exercise in hot environments. The body's sweating mechanism is overloaded and cannot cope with the heat buildup within the body. Since the blood flow is disturbed, the victim may feel dizzy, headachy, and nauseated. The signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion are similar to those of shock and should be treated as such. When a person suffers from heat exhaustion, the skin is gray in color and feels cold and clammy. To help the heat exhaustion victim, remove the victim to a cool area and loosen his/her clothing. You should apply cool wet cloths to the head, groin, and ankles and lightly fan the victim. If the victim is conscious, give him/her cool water to drink. If vomiting occurs, do NOT administer any more fluids. Transport the victim to a medical facility as soon as possible.